Cyperus hortensis (Salzmann ex Steudel) Dorr. Common name: Annual Greenhead Sedge. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Moist soils of fields, ditches, lawns, shores of ponds and rivers. Distribution: Pantropical, north in North America to e. PA, MO, and e. KS.
ID notes: Frequently confused with C. brevifolius, which occurs in similar habitats. In addition to the rhizomes, which may be inconspicuous on immature or densely matted plants, C. brevifolius has scale keels that are entire and most culms with the longest bract held vertical.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Dorr (2014) indicated that the correct name for this taxon in Cyperus appears to be C. hortensis; the basionym predates C. tenuifolius by a year.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NY, POWO; = Cyperus tenuifolius (Steud.) Dandy — C, F, G, GrPl, GW1, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tx, W, Goetghebeur & Van den Borre (1989); = Kyllinga pumila Michx. — Ar, ETx1, FNA23, Il, Mex, Mo1, NcTx, NS, S, S13, Tn, Va, WH3, WV, Tucker (1984), Tucker (1987); > Cyperus densicaespitosus Mattf. & Kük. — Carter et al (2016); Kyllinga hortensis Salzm. ex Steud. Basionym: Kyllinga hortensis Salzm. ex Steud. 1854
Links to other floras: = Kyllinga pumila - FNA23
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)
- Great Plains: FACW (name change)
- Midwest: FACW (name change)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.